Feb. 9, 2025

154. Italy - The Amalfi Coast - Italy's Stunning Seaside Paradise

Show Notes
Transcript

Journey along Italy's most beautiful coastline with Johnny Mac! From the colorful cliffside towns of Positano and Ravello to the historic streets of Amalfi, discover how to navigate this stunning region. Get practical advice on transportation options, hidden beaches, and the best times to visit. Learn about local specialties like limoncello and seafood, and find out how to escape the crowds while experiencing the coast's most magical spots.

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Callaroga Shark Media.

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Hey everyone, Johnny mack here with Traveler is back today.

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We're exploring one of the most stunning coastlines in the world,

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the Amalfi Coast. This incredible stretch of Italian coastline is

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famous for its dramatic cliffs, colorful villages, crystal clear waters,

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and winding roads that will take your breath away. Whether

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you're dreaming of lounging on beautiful beaches, exploring charming towns,

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or indulging in amazing food and limon cello, the Amalfi

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Coast has something for everyone. So let's dive into everything

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you need to know to plan an unforgettable visit. First,

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let's talk about getting there and getting around. Most visitors

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arrive through Naples, which is the nearest major city. From Naples,

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you've got several options. There's the public seat of bus

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private shuttle services where you can take a train to

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Sorrento and then continue by bus or boat. Driving the

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Amalfi Coast might sound romantic, it's actually incredibly challenging. The

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roads are narrow, winding and often congested, especially in peak season.

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Unless you're really comfortable with hairpin turns and Italian driving styles,

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consider using public transportation or hiring a driver. The best

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way to explore the coast is actually by boat. The

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ferry services running between towns give you amazing views of

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the coastline, and they're often faster than buses stuck in traffic.

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Plus you get to see these stunning towns the way

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they were meant to be seen from the water. You

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can buy single tickets or day passes, and the ferries

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run frequently during high season from April to October. Let's

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talk about where to base yourself. The three main towns

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most visitors consider are Positano, Amalfi, and Ravello. Each has

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its own character and advantages. Positano is probably the most famous.

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It's that iconic postcard view of colorful houses cascading down

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the cliff side. It's gorgeous, but also the most expensive

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and crowded. A Malfi is more central and slightly more affordable,

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with a beautiful cathedral and great transport connections. Ravello sits

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high up in the mountains, offering incredible views and a

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more peaceful atmosphere, though you'll need to travel down to

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the coast for beaches. Now, let's dive into these towns

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in detail. Starting with Positano. This town is all about

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those instagram worthy views, but there's so much more to it.

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The main beach, Spiagia Grande, is right in the center

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of town, but don't miss the quieter for Nilo Beach.

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It's just a ten minute walk along a pretty coastal

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path for shopping. Positano is famous for its handmade sandals

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and lightweight linen clothing. You'll find dozens of boutiques along

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the narrow streets, and many shops will customize sandals. While

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you wait, a word about those famous Positano stairs. They're

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no joke. The town is basically vertical, so you'll be

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climbing a lot of steps. Pack comfortable shoes and be

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prepared for a workout, but trust me, those views are

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worth every step. Try to book a hotel that's not

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too far up the hill unless you're really into fitness

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or don't mind spending money on port. Moving on to

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a Malfi town, which was once a powerful maritime republic.

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The centerpiece here is the stunning Cathedral of Saint Andrew,

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with its dramatic staircase and striped marble facade. Don't just

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admire it from outside. Go in to see the beautiful

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Cloister of Paradise and the ornate crypt A Malfi is

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also home to the fascinating Museum of Paper, celebrating the

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town's history of paper making. It's actually one of Europe's

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oldest paper mills and you can see the traditional technique

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still in use. A Mafi's main beach is right in town,

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but here's a local secret. Take a short walk to

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Santa Crocee Beach. It's accessible only by boat or by

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walking through the Lunarassa parking garage and down some steps,

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but it's usually much less crowded than the main beach.

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The water here is incredibly clear and perfect for swimming

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up in the mountains. Revello is all about elegant gardens

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and stunning views. The two must visit spots here are

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Villa Raufalo and Villa Simbroni. Villa Rafalo hosts amazing outdoor

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concerts during the Ravello Festival, and its gardens inspired Wagner's Parsifal,

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but the real showstopper is Villa Simbron's Terrace of Infinity Belvidere,

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lined with classical busts that offers what Gorvidal called the

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most beautiful view in the world. Let's talk about some

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smaller towns that are worth your time. Atrani is literally

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next door to Amalfi, but feels worlds away in terms

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of crowds. It's the smallest town in southern Italy and

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has a lovely main square where locals gather in the evenings.

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Minori and Majori have the coast's longest beaches and are

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much more laid back than their famous neighbors. Priyano offers

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spectacular sunsets and a more authentic field than Positano, plus

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its home to the famous Path of the Gods hiking trail.

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Speaking of hiking, the Path of the Gods, or Il

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Sentiero degli Dai is one of the coast's highlights. This

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stunning trail runs between Agiola and no Cell above Positano,

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offering incredible views of the coastline and Capri in the distance.

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The hike takes about three hours and is moderately challenging.

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Start early in the morning to avoid the heat and

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bring plenty of water. Most people start from Agiola walk

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downhill to Positano, but you can do it in either direction. Now,

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let's talk food because the Amalfi Coast's cuisine is incredible.

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This is the land of lemon Cello, made from local

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lemons that can grow as big as grapefruits. These aren't

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your regular lemons. They're called spisado Amalfatano and they're protected

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by law. You can visit lemon Cello producers to see

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how it's made and of course, taste the final product.

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Seafood is a major part of the local cuisine here.

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Try the catch of the day, grilled with nothing but

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olive oil and lemon. It doesn't need anything else. Skiel

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Atli is the local pasta typically served with seafood, or

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the amazing local cherry tomatoes. And don't miss Delicia al limone,

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a lemon flavored dessert that's a regional specialty. For an

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unforgettable meal, consider booking a table at one of the coasts.

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Michelin starred rests like La Caravella in a Mafi or

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Il Flato de pond in Ravelo, but some of the

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best meals can be found in simple, family run trattias.

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Just look for where the locals are eating. Beach time

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is obviously a big part of any Amouthi Coast visit.

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But here's what you need to know. Most beaches here

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are either private beach clubs where you pay for chairs

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and umbrellas, or small public sections that get very crowded.

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It's worth paying for a beach club at least once

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you get comfortable loungers, service, and often access to a restaurant.

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Some of the best beach clubs are in Positano and Mayori.

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For something special, take a boat trip to hidden beaches

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like Fiordo di Ferrare, a stunning fjord with a small

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beach beneath a dramatic bridge, Or visit the Emerald Grotto

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near Conca de Marini. It's less touristy than Capri's Blue Grotto,

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but equally beautiful. Let's talk timing. The high season is

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June through September, when the weather is hot and the

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crowds are intense. May and October are ideal, still warm

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enough to swim, but with fewer crowds and lower prices.

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Winter isn't ideal, as many hotels and restaurants close and

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ferry service is limited. If you do visit in summer,

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plan your outdoor activities for early morning or late afternoon

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to avoid the worst of the heat. Here's a money

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saving tip. Prices drop dramatically as you move away from

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the water. Consider staying in one of the villages up

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in the hills and commuting down to the coast. Sounds

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like Agiola or Suntagata so we do. A golfee offer

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amazing views and more authentic experiences at a fraction of

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the cost. Photography enthusiasts plan to be out during the

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golden hours around sunrise and sunset. The light hitting the

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colorful buildings and cliffs is absolutely magical during these times.

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For the best sunset shots, head to Prayano or the

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terrace at Villa Simbroni and Ravello. And Hey, if you're

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enjoying these travel guides and want to hear them without commercials,

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head over to Calaroga dot com. Plus the link is

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right there in the show notes. Until next time, I'm

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Johnny Mack and travel is back.

154. Italy - The Amalfi Coast - Italy's Stunning Seaside Paradise

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